//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 - 3/3: Let the Healing Begin // Story: To Love a Pet // by Creative Charmer //------------------------------// Apple Bloom's eyes glanced back and forth at the ponies in the room. Something wasn't right. Something was—missing. No, not something: somepony. The one pony amongst her sister's group of friends who is the most important to have here, yet was nowhere to be found. This was a question which needed a response posthaste, and so it was asked by Apple Bloom, "Hey, where's Rarity?" "Yeah, that's right. Where is she?" Scootaloo added whilst also surveying the vestibule. "Oh, my!' Sweetie's mom responded in astonishment. "I didn't even notice she was here! All I've been thinking about is helping my little girl," Sweetie's mom's head hung down in conjunction with her feelings of shame. "There, there, dear" Sweetie's dad embraced his wife and patted her back as he consoled her. "Do you girls know where Rarity is?" Applejack began the explanation, "Well, when I first left to gather everypony up, I ran into Rainbow Dash first. After she asked me what race I was in and why nopony told 'er 'bout it, I told 'er my real reason fer rushin' around." "So after she gave me the whole scoop, I went to get Rarity and Fluttershy while she went to get Twilight and Pinkie. I went to Rarity's house and knocked on the door, but she didn't answer. I figured that if she wasn't there, I should just go and get Fluttershy, since I'm sure Applejack would want this done as fast as possible." "Are yah sure that wasn't what you were thinkin'?" "Hmmm...nnnno, I'm sure you thought it first," Rainbow answered nonchalantly, with Applejack rolling her eyes in response. "Regardless of who thought of what first, what matters now is that Rarity be here for her sister." "Twilight's right," Fluttershy stated. "If there was ever a time for Sweetie Belle to need her sister, it's now." "Well, she might be home now. It's worth a shot tuh go and check," Applejack turned to leave, but was stopped short by the intervening of Rainbow Dash, whom had flown right in front of the mare. "Hold on! I'm the fastest pony here! I should be the one to go get Rarity!" "No offense, Rainbow Dash, but yer not exactly the most unassertive pony in the world. You'd prob'ly just try and force Rarity tuh come here without even tellin' her why." "That's—actually probably true." "Glad yah agree," Applejack resumed her venture, momentarily stopping at the front doorway. "Ah'll be back as soon as ah can," the mare dashed out the door, with her and everypony else hoping that not only would Rarity be available at this time, but that she may hold the key to her little sister's salvation. As it turns out, Rarity was indeed not home at the time of Rainbow Dash's earlier call. She was, in fact out purchasing the supplies she required for a new project she recently materialized. How exultant she was when she trotted through the doorway of her better-than-humble abode(which is how Rarity would certainly see it). The unicorn's confidence was unwavering in this new undertaking; the reason being that nopony else had yet to try their hoof at this manner of endeavor. After having made so many sartorial wares, there remained one which until this day had eluded the seamstress: a table cloth! She had never thought to make soft goods of this variety in the past, so now was as good a time as any to fabricate this fabric! But this was no mere wonted task: the ponies of Ponyville needed such an item in their lives—so as to bring a sense of extravagance to their mealtime; and who wouldn't want their lives to be as lavish as was possible? Nopony, that's who! Ponies from near and far would revere Rarity for having given a gift of such a grandiose scale to the world! They would drop down to their hooves when in her presence and praise the seamstress for enriching each and every one of their lives to a new, nonpareil extent! Rarity's eyes beamed at the thought of the superb future she believed to be awaiting her. This cogitation over the table cloth intensified Rarity's resolve. This was not some mere task for her to accomplish—this was a mission—a true and noble mission for the greater good of the fashion realm! And for all textile-related situations! To put it simply: a table cloth she had yet to produce, so produce one she must! Rarity placed her supplies amongst the tables in her vestibule. She was exceptionally eager to begin work on her new enterprise, but was not ready to begin the physical work just yet—because she still had plenty more to say about the prominence of her table cloth. "This shan't be an ordinary high-fashion dining cloth. Anypony can simply make a tablecloth. Mine will be nothing less than a masterpiece of banqueting wares! A true chef-d'œu•vre!" This fanciful description caused Rarity's imagination to be piqued at all that she expected from every pony who would obtain one of her magnificent tablecloths. "How dazzled ponies will be to gaze upon my work of art draped across their tables! When any pony sits down at their table to dine, they will be in such awe at my creation that they will never remember to eat again!" Rarity's zeal was prominent, but then she took a step back to think of what she had proclaimed so impulsively. "Hmm...that doesn't sound so good when I say it out loud. But, that does not mean I should falter in my efforts to fashion my wondrous creation!" Rarity grew more inspirited with each word uttered. "It will be a dining cloth unlike any other! A magnificent cloth! A grandiose cloth! A cloth for the ages!" "Yah sure yer not oversellin' it a bit?" Rarity about faced to see Applejack standing in the boutique's doorway. "Oh, Applejack—when it comes to my work, nothing less than the best words should be used." "Yeah, ah suppose ah can see you sayin' something like that." "Glad you do," Rarity responded brightly, entirely incognizant to Applejack's non-compliment. She then turned back to her work, with Applejack's earlier mood and frame of mind returning. "Look, Rarity: ah didn't come here just as a friendly visit. Ah came tuh talk tuh you 'cause a big problem has come up, and me and yer friends need yer help in fixin' it." "Well, it must certainly be a considerable problem for me to be the only pony who can solve it," Rarity responded whilst preparing her materials and sartorial implements with her magic. "You got it right on the head, there," Applejack replied, though not sounding so enthusiastic. "Though it's more of the 'yer the only pony who can solve it' which needed me tuh come here." "I see," Rarity replied, though most of her focus seemed to be on preparing the tablecloth, as now she was not even facing Applejack whilst conversing with her, showing the unicorn's incognizance of this problem's seriousness. "So, tell me: exactly what dire straits have befallen whomever has become the recipient of this affliction?" "Well, it's not gonna be so easy to explain—or, it's not gonna be so easy for you tuh hear." "Now how could that be?" Rarity asked nonchalantly. "Well...yah see...it...Rarity! Would yah stop with what yer doin' and listen tuh me fer a dang second??" Rarity wasn't so pleased by Applejack's attitude or her disruption of Rarity making dining room history. However, she did stop the work she was doing, though she appeared quite agitated in doing so. "Honestly, Applejack! You really don't think I can work and listen at the same time? I can easily do both!" "It's not that ah think yah can't do both at the same time, Rarity; it's just that what I'm trying' to tell yah is important, and I want you tuh realize how important it is by listenin' tuh me." "Well, if it's really as important as you, say, then it's only right that I do the polite and proper thing and listen as you so wish of me." "Thanks, Rarity," Applejack said with a hint of contentment, relieved to have finally gotten the unicorn's undivided attention. "Now, ah don't know how yer gonna be akin' what ah'm about tuh say, but ah think you should sit down fer it." Rarity let out a bit of a groan, feeling that Applejack was deliberately taking as long as possible to relay to her the news. In response, Rarity used her magic to pull up her finest chair and sat herself down upon it. "I do hope everything is adequate for you now," Rarity said contemptuously; much to the annoyance of Applejack. Rarity's behavior made Applejack not very keen on telling Rarity the important news, but this wasn't about Rarity—it was about Sweetie Belle, and she needed Rarity more than she ever had before—and Applejack was not going to be the pony to let the dismal filly down. "Okay," Applejack took a breath, both ready and uncertain of the outcome of this imparting of information. "...so it's like this..."